CRD nailing down funding, governance

Langford Coun. Denise Blackwell is back at the helm of the Capital RegionB次元官网网址檚 sewage treatment committee, although somewhat grudgingly, she admits.

Blackwell is chairing the core area liquid waste committee, a body steering the $790-million project, along with 14 municipal politicians who donB次元官网网址檛 always see eye to eye.

CRD board chair Geoff Young asked Blackwell to head up the committee and it took some convincing. Saanich Coun. Judy Brownoff stepped down as chair due to the workload.

B次元官网网址�(Young) had to twist my arm to a degree,B次元官网网址� Blackwell said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e done it before. I know itB次元官网网址檚 a lot of work.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 also a job that doesnB次元官网网址檛 get a lot of credit,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an expensive project. Being chair involves spearheading the spending of a lot of money.B次元官网网址�

Blackwell is a good pick, Young said, as she understands the complexity of the project and is from a municipality that isnB次元官网网址檛 sited for sewage treatment facilities, giving her a measure of neutrality.

As of now, the CRD has settled on a centralized treatment plant at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt, the site of a former oil tank farm, with a biosolids treatment facility at Hartland Landfill.

The central plant location could change depending on treatment technology and methods proposed during the procurement phase, Young noted, although he suspects McLoughlin is the most likely outcome.

B次元官网网址淭he McLoughlin site is not absolutely certain, but at this point it is the selected site,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e are open to the possibility with new technology there might be more, smaller sites. New options might require different sites.B次元官网网址�

Although the CRD has general funding commitments from senior governments for two-thirds of the project cost, Young said this year they would like to nail down specific, signed agreements.

B次元官网网址淲e have a general commitment (for funding) on the political level. We donB次元官网网址檛 have signed on the dotted line agreements,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淲e have had assurances. The CRD board is comfortable the funding will be there.B次元官网网址�

That level of comfort has allowed the CRD to spend $15 million in planning since 2006, with $6 million of that coming from the provincial and federal governments.

Young said the project is viable now, although planners are always seeking ways to lower the price tag, such as looking at other sites for the biosolids facility, closer to the main plant.

Another key task of the sewage committee this year is working with the province to establish a governing commission for the project, at armB次元官网网址檚 length from the CRD.

B次元官网网址淭he provincial government wants the commission 100 per cent away from the (CRD) board once we are into procurement,B次元官网网址� Blackwell said. B次元官网网址淭he board wants one or two voting members on the commission.B次元官网网址�

Young pointed out that funding and governance are intertwined issues B次元官网网址� senior governments giving hundreds of millions of dollars want to have a say how the project is managed. The CRD board will need to wrestle with decisions related to what degree the commission controls the project and how far the CRD is removed.

B次元官网网址淐ertainly before responsibility is passed over, the funding will have to be in place,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 not all up to us, our funding partners will have views. It is a case of deciding what is acceptable to them and us.B次元官网网址�

Check out www.wastewatermadeclear.ca for information and updates on the regional sewage treatment project.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com